The Denver Nuggets are looking to rebound from a Western Conference semifinals loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last season and are gearing up for another deep playoff run.
The Nuggets have fallen in the second round in back-to-back seasons following their championship in 2023. In an effort to bolster its championship-caliber roster alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Denver traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick for Cameron Johnson this summer.
While Porter has proven to be a dangerous offensive weapon and sharpshooter, Johnson is a better defender and passer who has also shot 39.2 percent from beyond the arc over his six-year career.
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Cameron Johnson trade ranked 7th ‘boldest’ offseason move
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Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report recently compiled a list of the NBA's boldest offseason moves ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, placing the Nuggets’ blockbuster trade at No. 7.
“Both are capable three-point shooting wings, but Johnson's lower salary ($20.5 million-$24.7 million for 2025-26, depending on incentives) compared to Porter's $38.3 million gives the Nuggets some breathing room to possibly get under the luxury tax before the end of the season,” [he wrote](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25238864-ranking-10-boldest-moves-2025-nba-offseason). “The downside is that Johnson has reached 60 games just twice in six years (with various injuries) — and that distant pick may be beyond Jokic's tenure with the club.”
Coming in second in MVP voting, Jokic averaged career highs in points (29.6), assists (10.2), steals (1.8), three-pointers made (2.0) and three-point shooting percentage (41.7 percent) in 2024-25. The Nuggets will aim to maximize his prime years, and swapping Porter for Johnson could help them do so.
However, trading away a key contributor from the team's 2023 championship roster is a risky decision. The Western Conference remains stacked, and Johnson's production will be crucial for Denver's title hopes.
Still, with arguably the best player in the world in Jokic and a tweaked roster, the sky remains the limit for the Nuggets.
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